how to style: sneakers!

Sneakers are an absolute summer staple.  From busy weekends, to activities with the kids to exploring new locales while on vacation... every gal needs a stylish pair of sneakers on hand for summer.  And crazy but true - fall is nearing (yikes!) - and sneakers are an absolute must-have for fall as well.

Since sneakers are must-have now... and a must-have later for fall I thought I would re-run this very popular post from last year updated with my favorite sneakers picks now in stores.  There is tons of great outfit inspiration here for summer and fall if you are needing some tips on how to style your sneakers this season or next.  But here is my best tip for styling sneakers: there is no wrong way to do it! From jeans to shorts, to dresses or from sweaters to tees, to tanks... pair them all with sneakers for a fun and modern look that is always comfortable and cool.

1. pink slip-on vans (so so cute!) 2. adidas "stan smith" (according to Jess Lively all the girls in Paris are wearing these right now!) 3. black nikes (these are on my wishlist right now!) 4. white converse all-stars 5. new balance baby blue sneakers 6. white/gold sneakers (drooling!) 7. navy canvas superego (comes in TONS of colors!) 8. burgundy nike air (LOVE these for fall!) 9. leopard slip on sneakers

how to style: fair isle for winter!

There is nothing like bundling up in a cozy fair isle sweater for the holidays and winter!  They are insanely cozy and warm and exude winter style.  Here I rounded up some of my favorite ways to style fair isle sweaters and some of my top picks for this season…

Some of my favorite stores are stocking some really adorable fair isle sweaters this season.  I especially love the options with tiny pops of red.  They just seem so festive!  My favorite way to style a fair isle sweater is with jeans and boots… but below you can see some really cute outfit ideas including pairing fair isle with skirts, leggings, boyfriend jeans and even dressed up with heels.  There are so many great ideas here.

I hope you have some fun styling up your new fair isle this season!

one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight

Shop additional fair isle sweaters below…

how to style: the graphic sweatshirt!

The graphic sweatshirt is the fall & winter equivalent of the graphic tee.  Let me tell you, if I can get away with wearing a sweatshirt and looking (and feeling!) stylish, then I sure will!  This fun grey sweatshirt with black flowers is absolutely adorable (and on sale!!) so I had some fun styling up three ways for fall and winter.

Which outfit is your favorite?  I can't decide… I love them all!

get the look:

shop the 'bundle up' look: sweatshirt, ponte leggings (save | splurge), scarf (save | splurge), tote (save | splurge), ring, boots (save | splurge)

shop the 'weekend cool' look: sweatshirt, fur hooded coat (save | splurge), boyfriend jeans (save | splurge), boots (save | splurge), sunglasses (save | splurge)

shop the 'shopping with the girls' look: sweatshirt, black jeans (save | splurge), vest (save | splurge), leopard flats (save | splurge), purse (save | splurge), earrings

Shop all the pieces (save & splurge!) below…

closet staples: how to style a summer tunic!

Today I am pulling some inspiration together on how to style summer tunics.  As I mentioned earlier this week… tunics have quickly become a mainstay in my summer wardrobe. They can be paired with shorts and jeans alike and on top of that they are perfect over swimwear for the summer.  So they can really be a workhorse in your closet in the spring and summer.

I have used tunics as a kind of "cheat" a lot so far this summer.  While they are laid back, they are also a tailored piece that makes an outfit look instantly pulled together.  So every time I throw them on I feel like a little bit more dressed up than maybe I really am.  Which is always a bonus.

one, white tunic - on sale!

two, pale blue - on sale!

three, grey/white striped - under $30!

four, lilac - under $30!

five, black/white striped - under $15!

six, blue/white striped

tip: pair these tunics with your favorite cut off shorts, white jeans, distressed jeans or over a swimsuit!

~~~

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my everyday style: wardrobe foundations (+ a giveaway)!

Classic wardrobe pieces are the foundations of our closets AND our everyday outfits.  Lately I've been trying to focus more on the foundations… both acquiring them and wearing them on a regular basis.  The more I do this, the more I find getting dressed easier each morning.  I know I talk a lot about "making getting dressed easy" - sometimes I feel like a broken record - but really the easier it is to get dressed each morning, the better I feel all day.  When what I am wearing fits great and feels great it's less trips in and out of the closet each morning and less second guessing ourselves.  Do you feel the same?

Wardrobe foundations like black jeans, classic cardigans and timeless tops like this silk one seem to make my life so much easier!  Let's not forget the foundations under the foundations either.  Perfectly fitting and gorgeous intimates are the foundation to any outfit also - and are just as important!  Today I am partnering with Kohl's to chat about their intimates as an essential piece of any outfit.  They have an absolute HUGE selection of intimates for whatever your body style and preference. I am always blown away when I visit the store to try bras on.  There are literally hundreds of options.  Or you can shop online too… and don't forget to access their measuring resources before you go. You never know if your size has changed and I find their online tool to be helpful in determining your correct size.

Read on to see my favorite bras I found at Kohl's recently and for an awesome giveaway!!!

(photos above by Tracy Carmody)

Outfit Details:

Cardigan, Forever 21

Blouse, J.Crew Factory (similar or similar)

Jeans, Old Navy (or similar)

Flats, Sam Edelman

Necklace, Gorjana via Rocksbox (use code: jillggxoxo to get a FREE month of Rocksbox subscription for a limited time, or 50% off your first box after that)

top two lace bras, middle strapless bra, bottom two lightly lined bras

or shop the entire collection here!

Now for the fun part!  Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter to win a $200 gift card to Kohl's - how awesome is that!? Winner must in the US (48 states) and must follow the Rafflecopter guidelines to be properly entered.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

floral dress… wear it now and later!

I just can't stop thinking about this fun floral dress from yesterday's post.  I love that it has a little sleeve and the blues and pinks in the pattern are totally up my alley for spring.  So I thought it would be fun to style this dress up a few ways to show it can be versatile for today (even though it's still a little chilly where I live!) and for a month or two down the road when the weather warms up a bit (or maybe it's even warm by you already, you lucky duck!).

This dress is absolutely perfect for layering… while it's cold out it pairs well with a lady like jacket and scarf and ankle boots for a day in the office, a March date night, or even an early spring wedding.  As the weather warms I love the idea of pairing this dress with more sporty pieces like a hat, sneakers and a jean jacket for a simple weekend or busy mom look.

How would you style this dress? I would love to know!

now:

dress, coat, scarf, ankle boots, bag

later:

dress, hat, bracelet, clutch, jean jacket, sneakers

9 pieces/9 outfits - winter to spring 2015!

By leaps and bounds the 9 pieces/9 outfits posts are my MOST popular posts around here.  You gals love 'em - and so do I!  To see all the posts click here for the archives.  Since winter is in it's twilight and we are all pining and wishing for spring I thought I would do a small capsule that was still perfect to wear this winter yet, but that also had a little hint of spring within it!

Capsule dressing seems to be all the rage these days… if you are a capsule dresser, these pieces are perfect for you. If you aren't into the capsule thing (I'm on the fence) these pieces are very capsule-esque in that they are great for mixing and matching but with less of a commitment of a full on capsule. Either way these pieces are SUPER easy to wear and can be dressed up or down for whatever your wardrobe needs may be this winter into spring!

the pieces: 

white jeans, boyfriend jeans, ponte leggings, striped duster jacket, black vest, grey sweater, white tuxedo top, pink sweater, cream sweatshirt

the accessories:

top row, from left:

tag necklace, black flats, cross body bag, brown ankle boots, bucket bag, sneakers

middle row, from left: 

strippend weekender bag, sneakers, lip gloss, necklace, brown ankle boots, leopard clutch, leather strand necklace, heels

bottom row, from left: 

riding boots, earrings, double ring, zipper bag, sneakers, scarf, ring, nude flats

three ways to style: a drapey tee!

A lot of you really loved the drapey tee I featured on Friday… so I thought it would be fun to style it up in a few different looks. You know, so if you haven't already bought it, you will really want to now (wink, wink!).  But seriously, this drapey tee is so versatile and comfortable that it can be worn from weekend to girls night out to the office even.   So here are three really easy ways to style this drapey tee…

to the office:

skirt, top, earrings, necklace, shoes, purse

all weekend long: 

scarf, top, bag, jeans, sneakers

parisian chic: 

leggings, top, scarf, flats, bracelet

winter whites!

January calls for a fresh start.  I'm craving an organized home, a fresh new calendar and simple and fresh updates to my wardrobe. Like clockwork this time of year I crave fresh, fresh, fresh!

Winter white is the perfect way to freshen up your wardrobe. Not only are these pieces great paired with grey and black for winter… but they are a gentle nod to spring as well.  They will be great paired with pastels as the weather thaws.

vest, turtleneck sweater, gold stripe clutch, white peplum top, bracelet, earrings, blouse, sequined mini skirt, white jeans, cardigan, necklace, puffer coat (on sale!) , side stripe oxford (on sale!), zip dress, flats (on sale!), cross-body bag

three ways to style your LBD this winter!

A LBD (little black dress) is a classic wardrobe staple that can get your through all your holiday wardrobe needs.  A little black dress can be styled up or down for the holiday parties on your schedule large or small and even through Christmas into New Years. Here I styled it up three fun ways… and BONUS! These great dresses are all UNDER $20 - can you believe it? So snag one now and you will be set for the holidays!

top:

dress, plaid top, red shoes, necklace

middle: 

ring, necklace, cardigan, ankle boots, dress

bottom: 

dress, faux fur scarf, clutch, earrings, shoes

Or shop the pieces below!!!

falling for leopard coats… three ways to style them!

Each fall and winter I find myself falling for leopard coats.  They seem a little wild and crazy and somehow classic at the same time.  But one thing is for sure… not only are these coats super fun to style but they would also add a lot of "happy" to any dreary winter day!

Here I found a few fun leopard coat styles at several price points and styled them up… I hope you like them as much as I do.

Tell me, would you wear a leopard coat for winter? Do you have one already?

(above: jeans, sweatshirt, coat, bag, ring, flats)

(above: coated jeans, jeweled top, earrings, clutch, flats, coat)

(above: necklace, jeans, t-shirt, cardigan, bag, boots, coat)

how to style graphic tees!

Graphic tees are a super fun trend that is sticking around - at least for a little bit.  While I don't usually advocate too much for trends, there are a few reasons why I love graphic tees… but the biggest reason is because they are so easy to style.  You can dress them up and dress them down and even layer them up for cooler seasons.  For this reason… they are great to buy and wear now during the summer and keep around for fall and winter by pairing with jackets or cardigans and scarves even.

Here are a few of my favorite ways to style graphic tees and my top picks for tees to snag to wear now and later!

1. adore 2. fantastique 3. paris 4. arrows 5. dry clean only 6. pour l'amour du frais 7. happy now 8. nautical 9. la marine

how to style: the little white dress!

A summer closet staple for sure… a little white dress is effortless and fun to wear all summer long.  Here are some great tips on how to style a little white dress for summer. 

at the beach: dress, hat, earrings, sandals, bag

casual friday: dress, blazer, wedges, earrings, tote

girls night out: dress, sunglasses, scarf, bracelet, shoes

Will you be sporting a little white dress this summer? 

what to wear to summer weddings!

Summer wedding season is upon us and I've got readers emailing me left and right asking… What to wear? What to wear? If you are wondering what to wear to the summer weddings on your calendar this season, you are not alone!

Every wedding has it's own style.  Some are super laid back and fun while others are more formal and traditional and many are outdoor this time of year as well - which is usually a style all it's own.  Here I pulled together three weddings looks for whatever style wedding you are attending this summer.

get the looks:

garden party: dress, necklace, nail polish, shoes, bracelet, clutch

black tie soiree: dress, shoes, clutch, earrings, bracelet

intimate & outdoor: dress, earrings, wedges, clutch, lip gloss

3 business casual summer outfit formulas!

One of the most common questions that I get from readers is for advice on how to make getting dressed for work outside of the home easier!  So today I am answering the common question "What are some great business casual outfit formulas for the warmer months?"

It's been quite a few years since I have been working in an office environment but, like dressing for the weekend or for working at home, the trick for making getting dressed simple each day is having a few formulas on hand.   Here are three of my go-to business casual formulas for warmer months:

• A navy blazer with white trousers.  This outfit has endless combinations depending on the shoes and the top you choose.  Here I used a striped top - but you could choose a floral tank or solid oxford for tons of different options all summer long.
• A black wrap dress with neutral accessories.  Having a black wrap dress in your closet is definitely a secret weapon when getting dressed for the office.  You can pair it with gold or silver bracelets or necklace, a neutral handbag and neutral shoes and it's instantly classic and a super easy outfit to pull together.
• A bold and bright top and scarf combo with black trousers.  This outfit is as simple as it gets! Pair your brightest top with a pair of black trousers and a fun scarf and you are office ready in a snap.

get the look above: trousers, blazer, striped top, clutch, shoes, monogram necklace

get the look above: wrap dress, bracelet, eye glasses, purse, shoes (love these!)

get the look above: earrings, trousers, sweater, scarf, bag, shoes

how to style a striped blazer three ways!

A lot of readers - myself included! - ohh'd and ahh'd over this striped blazer from Monday's post.  It's laid back feel is perfect for wearing all summer long as an extra layer for style or warmth as needed.

I've always said that if you when it comes time to add new pieces to your wardrobe you should always try to picture it in three outfits first before buying.  Here I styled this striped blazer into three great looks for whatever summer brings your way!  It works great on a casual friday at the office, with white shorts and a tee for weekends or over top of a simple sun dress for a casual wedding, Sunday church or a summer party of any sort!

This blazer is definitely versatile enough for anyone's wardrobe… which look do you most likely see yourself wearing?

business casual look: trousers, tee, blazer, necklace, shoes, bag

weekend chic look: sunglasses, white shorts, graphic tee, blazer, sneakers, tote

party ready look: navy dress, blazer, earrings, fold over clutch, shoes

4 ways to style the denim skirt for summer!

I'm sure I've mentioned before that a denim skirt is on my summer wish list. It's such a classic and simple piece, especially for denim lovers like myself, that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.

Here I styled up a denim skirt four ways to show how versatile it really can be for all your summer activities.  Also keep in mind that this would be a great packing piece for summer trips since it can be styled so many different ways!

for play look: denim skirt, baseball top - on sale!, tote, necklace, sneakers

for the beach look: denim skirt, swim suit top - on sale! & bottom, t-shirt - on sale!, flip flops, clutch - on sale!

for casual Friday look: denim skirt, blouse, wedges, earrings, bag - on sale!

for getting out of town look: denim skirt, tunic, weekender bag, sunglasses, heels, earrings

see you around...

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3 ways to style sneakers this spring & summer!

Classic sneakers are one of the hottest trends this season… and not only are they adorable, but they are also really practical and comfortable as well.  A few of my girlfriends were asking for advice on how to style them… these are my tips and tricks for styling sneakers this spring & summer.

• When choosing a pair of sneakers that you plan to wear as everyday shoes go for a style that is less running shoe or gym shoe.  Think classic, retro, monochromatic colors or refined when choosing a sneaker.  The three below are a safe bet and some of my favorite of the offerings this season.
• Let the sneakers add a little edge to your look. A summer dress with a pair of crisp white sneakers is a fun surprise and when paired with a denim jacket it's the perfect balance of casual and pulled together.
• To balance the casual feel of sneakers make sure to amp up your look with a little bling like a necklace, bracelet or handbag. 
• Resist the urge to use this trend as a "fresh from the gym" look.  Sweaty and unkempt is never stylish. Wear your sneakers intentionally to avoid looking sloppy.
• Lastly, ENJOY this trend - it's a super fun way to stay fresh and modern looking while letting your feet have a little rest from heels or sandals!

Below are three of my favorite sneaker styles this spring & summer… I would say that you could easily mix and match any of these three outfits with the three sneakers.  Have some fun with this trend for sure!

look one: jeans, top, sneakers, clutch, necklace, sunglasses

look two: shorts, sweatshirt, swimsuit, sneakers, sunglasses, tote

look three: dress, denim jacket, sneakers, bracelet, purse

Like these types of posts? Check out more of them here!

see you around...

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playing dress up: three ways to style distressed denim!

I've got a fun new series today that I am super excited about called 'playing dress up'! Lately I've been feeling a little ho-hum about my usual "outfit posts"… I wanted a way to bring you gals real life style but in a way that really packed a punch and was full of lots of great inspiration.

I have found that photographing looks throughout the week that feature what I am wearing can be really, really challenging… especially with a super busy photographer (my husband) and two busy kids.  It just wasn't happening as regularly as I wanted it to.  And when it was happening it felt super rushed and uninspired on my part.  So I am going to try and take a break from the usual outfit posts in exchange for a full on session of playing dress up here at home.  This way I am able to show you how I style the pieces in my closet, but without the pressure of getting pictures at random intervals throughout the week.  As a blogger I am still learning to balance life with work, even after all these years.  Trying new projects like this get my creative juices flowing again and hopefully bring you readers great content as well.  I hope you like this new series!

I thought I would start this new series with my favorite jeans… my distressed jeans from the Gap. I know not everyone loves this look and they are not for all events or occasions either. But what I DO love about distressed jeans is that they add an extra layer of texture and laid back appeal to any look.  I never want to take style to seriously and distressed jeans have that exact vibe - not so serious.

Here I styled them a little sporty, dressed up for a night out and a little preppy.  I absolutely loved all these looks and will be recreating them (off camera) again very soon.

get the look

sporty: top, emmerson fry (similar) | jeans, gap | necklace, baublebar | sunglasses, ray ban | shoes, superega | clutch, j.crew factory

night out: top, j.crew factory (similar) | shoes, j.crew | bag, kate spade (similar) | earrings, j.crew (similar) | bracelet, dear prudence (similar)

preppy: blazer, gap | oxford top, h&m | bag, j.crew (similar) | shoes, j.crew factory

Stay tuned as I will have more of these posts coming soon (let me know if there is a particular piece you want styled too!) and tomorrow is this month's installment of "the damage" and it's going to be like a confession booth friends, lots of shopping this month (which is both good and bad!).